Genuine Work at Home Data Entry Jobs Are Out There...

But they're scarce. And the scams are ever so much easier to find. Then you have to sort through the opportunities calling themselves jobs when they are really business opportunities.

It's tough out there.

Fortunately, there are some jobs to be had out there. Data entry is a very popular work at home option because most people feel quite comfortable typing, so it sounds ideal.

The very first thing you need to do is to learn how to screen out the scams and business opportunities. I'll cover these first.

Scams are most easily spotted when they promise you outrageous pay for little to no work. If it were that easy, we'd all be rich already. I certainly wouldn't be writing this. But sometimes scams are more devious, and you have to take a closer look at what is promised, what is asked of you and so forth.

One of the cardinal rules of looking for a work at home job of any sort is "do not pay to apply for a job". There are times when it saves effort to pay a company that finds potential jobs for you. There are a very few legitimate sites that do this on a membership basis. But paying to apply for the job itself is a big no-no. It does not show that you're serious. It shows that you fell for it.

Then there are the opportunities claiming to be data entry work at home jobs but are actually offering business opportunities. Most involve one form or another of affiliate marketing, and really are not what the average person would consider to be data entry.

Many of the ones I've seen involve selling digital products from Clickbank through pay per click advertising. There are people doing very well at this. But it is a tough business to learn, and it can get expensive quickly. Do this if you are willing to risk some money, but not otherwise.

Then there are the real jobs. Companies that need people to type things up for them. For example, there's a company in Arizona that processes customer rebate forms. If you live in the area, you may be able to get into that one. In this particular case you do have to be local so that you can pick up the forms and drop off the results.

Do not assume that you can just apply for and get these jobs with no experience. There will be others trying for the same job. There can be huge numbers of people applying for just a few openings if word gets out.

You do need to show that you are an excellent typist and can work well on your own. There are places you can go to test your typing speed. This is one of your most important skills as most jobs pay based on production. The faster and more accurately you work, the more you can earn.

Focus your resume on your skills that are most relevant. Just as with any other job, when you want to work at home you need to think about how your resume will appeal to a potential employer. Tailor it to focus on the required skills.

About the Author

Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/ about the many stay at home job possibilities out there. Find a list of companies that may hire for work at home data entry at her site.